How To Meet Someone New During the Holidays

By Bonny Albo

Single? You're not alone. And depending on your point of view, being single during the holidays can be good - and bad. On one hand you have no one to bring with you to all of the special events that only crop up during the holidays. But on the other hand? Those same yearly events are prime places to meet someone new.

For those not wanting to be single during the holidays, here are some tips to assist you in finding a holiday date.

Let People Know You Are Single and Looking to Meet Someone New

Tell your friends you are more than willing to accompany another single person on a holiday event should they need a date. Announce to your family that you're single this holiday season, but may very well bring someone else along to the festivities who doesn't have family close by to celebrate with. In the end it doesn't really matter how you let your community of loved ones know that you are available and looking. The point is that you do.

Accept Every Holiday Invitation

Unless a holiday event puts you in a bad position (i.e. with no way to get home afterwards safely, or face-to-face with a former partner for hours at a time), make a point of accepting every holiday invitation that comes your way - no matter how unusual, farfetched or random. In fact, the more an event will potentially take you out of your safety zone and into a new group of people, the better. If, however, you aren't able to accept an invitation because of a prior engagement, bow out gracefully with thanks for thinking of you.

Plan for Mistletoe and Other Singles Holiday Surprises

As a single person, many people will assume your calendar is much more flexible than a couple with three kids. Although this may or may not be true, singles who make themselves available oftentimes receive several last-minute phone calls to attend a holiday function. Another side to this coin is the assumption that, when presented with mistletoe, a single woman will automatically kiss a single man. To avoid potential mishaps, plan for how you'll react to these kinds of situations in advance so as not to be thrown off guard. Having one or two holiday outfits hanging in your closet ready-to-wear may suffice, as well as saying you think you are coming down with a cold to the onlookers pressing for an awkward mistletoe moment.  

http://dating.about.com/od/occasionsholidays/tp/HolidayWaysToMeetSingles.htm